Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. I've been about Earth Day. Gretchen at Stella Bella Quilts blogged about doing things in her yard to attract songbirds. Months ago, I cut out an article from the AJC (Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper) about household cleaning products that could be made with homemade ingredients that are friendly to the environment. I made a shopping list for the items that I didn't have and purchased the needed items. I've used the Household Cleaner in our Master Bathroom with great success. Because it's so cheap and easy to make, I seem to spray it around and clean more. The drain cleaner is a good one. It didn't solve my slow drainage problem. I had to use the hair removal "thingy", but it did clean the drain. I haven't tried the furniture polish, yet. I need to buy more containers or save an empty bottle instead of recycling it. Remember to use a Sharpie to label and container that you recycle.
Eco-friendly Household Cleaner
½ cup baking soda
½ cup borax
½ cup vinegar
1 gallon water
Mix ingredients together in large container --- baking soda and vinegar will foam up. Test product on small surface to make sure it doesn’t blemish
Eco-friendly Drain Cleaner
¼ cup baking soda
½ cup vinegar
2 quarts boiling water
Pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar. Cover drain for 15 minutes. Pour boiling water.
Eco-Friendly Furniture Polish
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
Mix ingredients and apply to furniture. Let it sit for a few minutes and then buff with soft cloth. Always test in small spot in the back side.
½ cup baking soda
½ cup borax
½ cup vinegar
1 gallon water
Mix ingredients together in large container --- baking soda and vinegar will foam up. Test product on small surface to make sure it doesn’t blemish
Eco-friendly Drain Cleaner
¼ cup baking soda
½ cup vinegar
2 quarts boiling water
Pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar. Cover drain for 15 minutes. Pour boiling water.
Eco-Friendly Furniture Polish
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
Mix ingredients and apply to furniture. Let it sit for a few minutes and then buff with soft cloth. Always test in small spot in the back side.
One of our teachers sent this list from our County Clean and Beautiful Committee. The ideas can be adapted any place on Earth.
At home:
1. Change out your traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones.
2. Get out and garden. Plant a tree, some perennials, or start a vegetable garden.
3. Say farewell to your plastic grocery bags - go cloth!
4. Recommit to and expand your recycling efforts.
5. Take a walk and pick up litter along your path.
6. Build a new habitat for the birds, frogs, or butterflies in your yard.
7. Stencil the storm drains in your neighborhood to remind others that they lead to streams.
8. Report and paint over any graffiti in your neighborhood.
9. Adopt one new practice to help conserve water in your home.
1. Change out your traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones.
2. Get out and garden. Plant a tree, some perennials, or start a vegetable garden.
3. Say farewell to your plastic grocery bags - go cloth!
4. Recommit to and expand your recycling efforts.
5. Take a walk and pick up litter along your path.
6. Build a new habitat for the birds, frogs, or butterflies in your yard.
7. Stencil the storm drains in your neighborhood to remind others that they lead to streams.
8. Report and paint over any graffiti in your neighborhood.
9. Adopt one new practice to help conserve water in your home.
Please share some of your conservation or recycling ideas in your blog or in the comments section of this post! Happy Earth Day!
3 comments:
I use the same drain cleaner recipe. It works well if you use it periodically before the drains get slow. Of course we both hoard fabric which insulates the house!
THANK YOU for sharing these recipes. Elaine Adair(elaineadairpieces.blogspot.com)has a recipe for making your own laundry detergent that she says works great. We buy cereal in the plastic bags, which is a heavier gauge plastic. When they're empty, we use the bags as splatter covers in the microwave, to separate frozen hamburger patties or tortillas or whatever, and whatever else we can think of.
Regarding those fluorescent bulbs, I think they have mercury inside, so you don't want to bust one inside the house.
I saw all of those recipes in the paper of course I didn't save them. I now have them from your site. Thanks.
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